Goodguys 2026 New Product Showcase & Best Booths Presented by In the Garage Media
Research and development in the hot rod and restoration market is kind of like rust – R&D never sleeps! Thanks to this non-stop engineering and innovation our hobby continues to prosper with fresh ideas and concepts. This is exactly why Goodguys promotes a New Product Awards showcase during their 28th Summit Racing Nationals presented by Grundy Insurance in Columbus held the second weekend of July.
The “Big One”, as they call the Columbus show, has several exclusive highlights such as the crowning of the Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year and the Forgeline Street Machine of the Year, giving away the 2026 Grand Prize Giveaway 1940 Ford built by Roseville Rod and Custom and the unveiling of the 2027 Giveaway 1966 Chevelle from GAP Industries – plus the special New Product Awards section!
Like last year, our friends at In the Garage Media (producer of Modern Rodding, All Chevy Performance and Classic Truck Performance magazines) hosted the New Product Award area placed inside the Bricker Building where people could escape the heat (most of the time). There was a good turnout of manufacturers and even builders that entered their latest, greatest products to vie for the title of Best New Product of 2026.
Following are the winning products in their corresponding categories along with a bonus gallery of all the entries.
Best New Engine & Trans Product: Tanks, Inc. 1982-92 Camaro/Firebird EFI Gas Tank
Tanks, Inc.’s latest offering covers the popular third gen Camaro and Firebirds as a direct bolt-in and features internal baffling, a recessed pump mount and easy to install two-piece filler neck.
Best New Suspension, Chassis and Brake Product: Ridetech Momentum Series 2nd Gen F-Body Subframe
Ridetech started with a clean slate on their Momentum subframe assembly with updated geometry, increased rigidity, and improved aesthetics to capitalize on improved tire technology to answer the needs of today’s modern rodder.
Best New Interior Product: Apex Leather Day Pointe Carpet
The “Legacy Rewoven is a unique carpet solution for the iconic Daytona carpet masterfully designed for the hot rod industry with stunning style, durability, and comfort.
Best New Electrical Product: American Autowire, Track 20 Modular Wiring System
American Autowire’s Track20 wiring system replaces a traditional harness with a scalable, serviceable power distribution system. It supports future expansion, enables a cleaner, faster, and more reliable installation.
Best New Tires and Wheels Product: Forgeline Motorsports’ Turbine Wheel
Forgeline’s trick new Turbine wheel is a tribute to the 10 anniversary Trans Am, but looks great on any number of modern street machines. Fully customizable and available in 18-, 19-, and 20-inch diameters.
Best New Body & Glass Product: Eddie’s Rod & Custom Universal Electric Door Handles
Dig these new electronically operate door handles from Eddies. The slender design provides a subtle upgrade and features a tiny microswitch to activate the door.
Best New Paint and Care Product: Griot’s Garage Boss Ceramic All-in-One
The newest detailer from Griot’s Garage is engineered to eliminate paint defects and remove moderate paint scratches and oxidation. It also adds durable UV and hydrophonic protection.
Best New Garage/Shop Product: Vintage Air Hydra-Crimp Pro Tool
This new handheld hydraulic crimp tool is designed and tested to meet the quality demands of Vintage Air. The kit includes tooling for OEM style eight-segment standard and reduced barrier beadlock fittings.
People’s Choice Award: Pure Choice Motorsports, Pure Stealth Aluminum Pass Through Grommet Set
Machined from billet aluminum, these firewall pass through grommets deliver a clean, professional appearance while safely passing the A/C or heater lines through metal panels.
Best Indoor Booth: Auto Metal Direct
No surprise here as AMD was killing it with a compete C10 build from the ground up during the show. This year the booth was packed with GM trucks, social media celebrities, and so many cool things to check out.
Best Outdoor Booth: Roadster Shop
Wondering how one of Roadster Shop’s chassis fits under the body of a Fox Body Mustang or a Gen-3 Camaro? Stop by the RS booth to see and be sure to check out their new line of 4×4 chassis. It’s all cool and all right there to see and ogle.
Photos: Todd Ryden
